By Garth Borthistle

A key principle in resolution work (aka transition ministry) is that 90 percent of what makes a gathering (meeting, conflict-resolution process, etc.) successful is put in place before hand.  

Priya Parker in her book, The Art of Gathering, refers to this rule in a story about work done in complex Middle East dialogue situations. Before bringing leaders together for dialogue, there were two years of preparation work and trust building with delegates. The work consisted of building relational trust, having tea with individuals, listening, meeting family members and hours of pre-dialogue. This is where 90 percent of the gathering’s success is set in motion. 

Time Spent Listening Sets the Course

For transitional leaders or pastors, the level of conflict in a church gives us guidance for this pre-work. I’ve been in a few very tense situations with churches and have found that spending time listening and fact finding does set the course for much of the work ahead.  T...